Josh and Ken Huepel, along with other top NFL and collegiate players and coaches, brought the Day of Champions camp to Shawnee to work with local youth. The camp was held July 1-2 at The Ball Fields at FireLake and nearly 100 youth attended.

The camp was hosted by Citizen Potawatomi Nation and Day of Champions Inc., which was founded by Ken Heupel, Northern State University coach, and son, Josh, the 2000 national champion OU quarterback and current offensive coordinator.

“Chairman Barret and Vice Chairman Linda Capps have spearheaded this camp and given the agreement their support,” said Heupel. “The camp has built on that foundation each and every year and we get to encourage and mentor more youth. We’re very excited to be here working with youth in this area.”

This is the eighth year for the camp at Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Each day camp participants were divided into teams to learn basic football skills and fundamentals for sports and life. The camp bases all activities on four principles: discipline, respect, trust and hard work.

Thad Williams, 12, who has attended camp for five years said “I come back because it teaches me new things, makes me work hard and teaches me life lessons. I really enjoy working with the coaches and will ask my parents to come back next year.”

Another youth attending camp, Mitchell James, 10, said “I had fun learning the linebacker position and learning running and football exercises.”

The CPN-sponsored camps are open to all enrolled Native American youth or children of CPN employees for a price of $15 for two days of camp. Lunch, a t-shirt and other refreshments included. At this year’s event, 75 percent of attendees were Native American. Of that number, 50 percent were enrolled members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.